Horror punk is one of the most difficult and specialized subgenres to master. Not only do horror punk bands have to master the style created by genre progenitors the Misfits, but they also have to find a unique way to stand out from the forefathers. This is why most horror punk bands simply become Misfits cover bands over time, because the subtlety required to achieve this mastery is very rare.
However, a few bands have found the right balance necessary to be successful at horror punk. One of the most underrated bands in this elite group is the Murderdolls, the duo of vocalist Wednesday 13 and guitarist Joey Jordison, who also plays drums for Slipknot and Rob Zombie. Their debut Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls made a huge splash in 2002, but they went on a six-year hiatus in 2004 due to Jordison's obligations with Slipknot and Wednesday starting his solo project. However, the pair reunited early in 2010 to record a new album, much to the delight of horror punk enthusiasts. Women and Children Last is just as good as fans hoped it would be, creating a new prototype for future horror punk bands.
